A Dutchman Capturing a Ferocious Tiger Alive (Ranjin môko o iketoru zu)

Medium:: Woodblock print
Format:: Oban
Source:: mfa

Typical Price

Fine Kyosai animal subject in excellent condition: $800–$3,000
Good condition animal print: $300–$1,200
Standard impression: $150–$500

Description

A woodblock print depicting a Dutchman in the act of subduing a ferocious living tiger — a subject that would have struck Kyosai's audience as simultaneously exotic, comic, and faintly incredible. The arrival of Western traders and diplomats in Japan following the forced opening of the country in 1854 generated intense popular curiosity, and Kyosai like other artists produced numerous images of Westerners (Ranjin — "Dutch people" being the generic term) that blended genuine observation with caricature. A foreigner wrestling a tiger encapsulates the era's sense of worlds colliding.

More Prints by Kawanabe Kyosai

from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)

Woodblock print

Old Picture of the Rashômon Gate (Rashômon no ko zu), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho tsuzuki

Woodblock print

Tsukishimadera Temple in Hyôgo (Hyôgo Tsukishimadera), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi

Woodblock print

from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)

Woodblock print

More Animals Prints

Snake Charmers (Hebizukai)

Hebizukai

1932

Color woodblock print; oban

Hoshifuri Pine at Zen'yoji Temple in Edogawa (Edogawa-ku Zen'yoji Hoshifuri matsu), from the series "One Hundred Views of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era (Showa dai Tokyo fukei hyaku zue hanga)"

1935

Color woodblock print; oban

Drawing for Rabbit and Boy

1964

Acrylic paint and oil pastel with oiled charcoal and ink over an ink and graphite underdrawing on paper

Rabbit and Boy

1964

Color lithograph with relief block and hand coloring; edition 35/36

Frequently Asked Questions

A Dutchman Capturing a Ferocious Tiger Alive (Ranjin môko o iketoru zu) was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎).

A Dutchman Capturing a Ferocious Tiger Alive (Ranjin môko o iketoru zu) depicts animals.